Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill and leader Mary Lou McDonald have arrived at a police station to be interviewed over protests on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
It comes as an Assembly committee ended in acrimonious scenes after the First Minister walked out amid heated exchanges, insisting she had a “hard stop”.
After the First Minister’s departure, DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who had appeared alongside Ms O’Neill to face questions from MLAs on Wednesday afternoon, offered to stay on to answer more questions but she was advised that would not be in line with protocol.
Meanwhile, details of offers made by Portadown District to allow Orangemen to walk the Garvaghy Road have emerged in court.
It comes as a legal challenge over Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant’s ban on the Drumcree parade continued at the High Court.
The case has now ended, with the judge saying he will rule on the matter next week.
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Key updates
Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald arrive at police station
10,000 supporters at Portadown parade
Details of Orange Order's offer revealed
Belfast Orangemen to attend Portadown rally
Court report: Police feared dissident gun attack if parade went ahead
Eimear McGovern
Michelle O'Neill: 'We are here to engage with the process'
First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she will "engage with the process" by attending the police interview.
“I think whenever you do the right thing, you’ll always have peace with that decision," she said.
"I am proud of the decision we took to stand on the Gavaghy Road. That will never change. We said we'll engage with the process and that’s what we are here to do.”
Mary Lou McDonald: 'Nothing less would have been expected of the First Minister'
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has defended the stance of herself and First Minister Michelle O'Neill in attending a protest on Garvaghy Road.
Speaking to the media before the pair went into Musgrave Police Station for an interview, Ms McDonald said: "I think the message to everyone is that there is no second class citizens in this society.
"That every single person enjoys the same rights to live peacefully, to live in peace, to have their rights vindicated and also that that their political leaders will stand with them when there is a threat to their safety and to their peace of mind.
"That's what we did.
"I think nothing less than that would have been expected of the First Minister and certainly nothing less than that can be expected from the leadership of Sinn Féin."
Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald arrive at police station
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and party vice president and Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill have arrived at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast for interview by officers investigating their participation in an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month linked to an attempt to prevent a contentious Drumcree Order Order parade.
Michelle O'Neill attending police station for interview
Sinn Féin vice president Ms O’Neill had to leave a Stormont committee meeting to attend a police station in Belfast for interview by officers investigating her participation in an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month.
It comes as an Assembly committee has ended in acrimonious scenes after the First Minister walked out amid heated exchanges, insisting she had a “hard stop”.
After the First Minister’s departure, DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who had appeared alongside Ms O’Neill to face questions from MLAs on Wednesday afternoon, offered to stay on to answer more questions but she was advised that would not be in line with protocol.
Mark Edwards
10,000 supporters expected at Portadown Orange march
Mark Edwards
Listen to today's podcast on the Drumcree latest
Mark Edwards
‘Only the PSNI carried guns on the Garvaghy Road’: Breandán Mac Cionnaith
Mark Edwards
Jamie Bryson speaks outside court as legal challenge continues
Loyalist Communities Council 'astonished' over court claims that paramilitaries are 'showing signs of frustration'
The Loyalist Communities Council - an umbrella group representing the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando paramilitary gangs - has hit back over comments heard in the High Court yesterday that loyalist paramilitaries are showing signs of "frustration", with the organisation saying they are "astonished".
The High Court heard on Monday from Philip McAteer KC representing the Northern Ireland Secretary, who said police intelligence had indicated that elements linked to loyalist paramilitaries supporting the parade were “becoming increasingly frustrated with the policing operation”.
In a statement today the LCC said: "The LCC statement at the start of the standoff urged all loyalists to remain calm, and to fully abide by the law. This was followed without exception therefore it is incumbent on the Chief Constable to explain the comments made to the court."
Adrian Rutherford
10,000 supporters at Portadown parade
An application from the Portadown District Orange Order Lodge for a parade and rally in Portadown on Saturday has been registered with the Parades Commission.
It has now been listed on the commission's website.
The application is for 10 bands, 5,000 participants and 10,000 supporters.
Adrian Rutherford
Decision next week
The High Court challenge has now concluded, with the judge saying he will rule on the matter next week.
Adrian Rutherford
'Least intrusive measure used'
Speaking of the Orange lodge’s position, Mr McAteer KC for the Secretary of State said: “An alternative route was unacceptable... their specific and only Article 11 right was the right to proceed along the Garvaghy Road.
“This was only about walking the Garvaghy Road ... that’s what residents were implacably opposed to ... no other decision by the Secretary of State would have ended the stand-off and therefore mitigate all those risks and avoid public disorder and crime.
“The least intrusive measure was used.”
An amendment on time or numbers could not have achieved the aims, he said - only the decision taken by the Secretary of State.
Adrian Rutherford
Decision 'was a careful balancing exercise'
Mr McAteer, who is representing the Secretary of State, said: "When you step back could any other decision have been made?
"You really have to look at it through the proper prism."
He added that every step was taken to facilitate the determination, including a police operation that over the course of two weeks cost £5 million.
Mr McAteer said the decision was a careful balancing exercise between the conflicting rights of residents and the Orange lodge, but also protecting the public from serious public disorder.
"There were no less intrusive measures available," he added, saying the talks had broken down after two weeks.
Adrian Rutherford
How talks broke down
The Secretary of State asked if all the Garvaghy Road had to be walked, but Mr Dawson “showed no flexibility” around a different route, the court was told.
The residents were also fixed around the notified route and would not agree to any amended parade.
It is then that talks break down.